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Image released, Reuters
Pompeo said peace between Israel and the Arab countries would improve the lives of the people in these countries
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hopes to see other Arab countries follow the UAE and normalize relations with Israel.
This will not only increase stability in the Middle East, but it will also improve people’s lives, Pompeo said.
But he added that the US would make sure Israel retains a military advantage.
Pompeo spoke after meeting the Israeli prime minister in Jerusalem, at the start of a five-day trip that will also take him to Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
And earlier this month, US President Donald Trump helped broker the historic deal between Israel and the UAE. With this agreement, the UAE has joined with Egypt and Jordan to become the third Arab country to establish relations with Israel.
Under the agreement, Israel and the UAE agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, including the exchange of ambassadors, the operation of direct flights and openly engaging in bilateral trade.
Israel has also said it will suspend its plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank that many believe will eliminate the chances of peace with the Palestinians.
Pompeo, wearing a mask representing the US flag, warmly greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, exchanging elbows twice.
In brief statements, he praised the Israeli-Emirati agreement, saying he was “very optimistic that we see other Arab countries joining this”.
He added: “The opportunity available to them to recognize the State of Israel and work with them will not only lead to greater stability in the Middle East, but will also improve the lives of the people of their countries.”
Netanyahu said the deal heralds a new era, adding, “I hope we have good news in the future, perhaps in the near future.”
Image released, AFP
Netanyahu says Israel is opposed to the sale of F-35s to the UAE
Israeli and US officials believe Bahrain, Oman and Sudan could be the next countries to establish relations with Israel.
But last week the Sudanese foreign ministry fired its spokesman after praising the Emirati-Israel deal, calling it a “bold and bold step”.
The Palestinians accused the Emirates of treason. Previous peace plans promised Israel ties with Arab states only as part of an agreement to end the conflict with them.
Pompeo also addressed reports of a planned US deal to sell advanced F-35 fighters, which Israel already owns, to the United Arab Emirates.
He said: “The United States has a legal requirement regarding military quality superiority [لإسرائيل]. We will continue to respect it. “
“But we also have a security relationship with the UAE for over 20 years, as we have provided them with technical and military assistance. We will now continue to review this process to continue making sure we send them the equipment they need,” he added .
Netanyahu said Israel opposes the sale of F-35s to the UAE, but Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said last week that his country’s requests to buy F-35s were “legitimate” and they “should get them”.
Pompeo noted that Israel and the UAE see Iran as a common threat. He promised that the US would remain determined to ensure that the international arms embargo on Iran did not end in mid-October, even if it meant trying to “restore” the UN sanctions that had been lifted under the Iran nuclear deal. .
Iran, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China have said the US does not have the right to initiate a sanctions reset process because they abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018.
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